Text 16069, 70 rader
Skriven 2005-11-13 16:24:01 av Michiel van der Vlist (2:280/5555)
  Kommentar till text 15890 av Raymond Yates (1:3613/48)
Ärende: Fog lights
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 MV>> If the motor bike runs into the side of the car, it is the fault of
 MV>> the biker; he failed to spot the car in time. When the car driver
 MV>> fails to see the biker, the car would hit the bike broadside.

 > In my experiecne teaching motorcycle safety, this is not always so.

 > One of my students had an incident where the car, traveling on
 > a cross-street, went through the intersection because he did
 > not see the biker. The biker had the right of way, but hit the
 > car in the front door.

Then I'd say, your student was inexperienced and had not yet learned the lesson
that having right of way does not mean that you will actually get it.

An experienced and carefull biker will not assume that he has been seem and
approach the crossing at such a speed that he can always stop before he
intersects the path of the car if the car driver suddenly pulls up. he will
only accelerate if he has advanced to the point where he can pull out in front
of the car no matter what.

 > It was shortly after that the the military post mandated bike
 > headlights on. That was about a year before it was required by
 > the State of Maryland.

Required? So much for freedom. ;-)

 MV>> Yes, sure under adverse conditions having the lights on is
 MV>> a good idea. In broad daylight and clear weather it is nonsense.
 MV>> The chance of running headlong into another car because you do
 MV>> not see him under those conditions is near zero. Can't improve
 MV>> on that by switching the lights on.

 > Again I have to disagree.

You will need a bit more than disagreement to get me to switch my lights on in
bright daylight or support a law that makes it mandatory...

 > anything that helps one to be noticed is a good thing.

Not necessarily. Attention is relative. If the one draws attention towards him,
he draws attention away from something else. F.e. the kid on the bicylcle that
is about to cross....

 > I drive nearly every day, and I have seen that the cars
 > that drive with some lights on even in clear daytime conditions
 > stand out better.

Nvertheless I have yet to see the statistics that show this actually leads to
improved overall road safety.

 > My city has one of the hightest accident records in the state
 > (I don't know why that is, except it might have something to
 > do with the number of tourists that are easily lost) When I
 > get a chance I'll see if the keep statistics on the number
 > of cars that burn lights and have accident,s and those that don't.

Those statistics should not just look at the cars. It should also take into
consideration other road users. Bicyclists and pedestrians...

 > At the moment about 50% (roughly) Do. and In my experience
 > they stand out.

Have you ever run headlong into another unlighted car because you did not see
it and if you did, would you have seen it in time had it carried lights?


Cheers, Michiel

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